SOUTH African kwaito star Brown Dash died on Wednesday, according to friends.

The singer, who was born Siphiwe Mpamile, was 33.

The ‘Puff n’ Pass’ star had been unwell for several years. He spent three weeks in hospital last year after being diagnosed with pneumonia and had liquids drained from his lungs.

After rumours of the singer’s death swept through social networks shortly after 3PM local time, several of the singer’s friends confirmed he had died.
Kwaito kingpin Mandoza said on his Facebook: “Rest in Peace Brown Dash!”

Brown Dash – so named because of his love for brown car dashboards – shot to stardom in 2002 as the vocal talent that sang alongside the masked Mzekezeke who ruled the chats with the hit, ‘Sguqa Ngamadolo’.
Before that, Brown Dash had featured in Mapaputsi’s smash hit, ‘Izinja’.

In 2003, still signed to TS Records, he worked with producer DJ Cleo on his first single, ‘Puff ‘n Pass’.

He shortly followed this with his debut album, ‘Umthandazo Wabolova’ out of which dropped the hit, ‘Pants’Komthunzi Welanga’.

The album won him Best Kwaito at the 2005 SAMA Awards.

After his third album, ‘Dashboard, bombed in 2007, Brown Dash left TS Records acrimoniously amidst a financial dispute.

His last studio album, ‘Basck2Kasi’, failed to match the success of his earlier work but he maintained huge respect in the business, especially among his kwaito peers.